Easter 2008

Easter was great as usual. We woke the kids with "come and see, His body is gone, He is risen" We had our muffins, fruit, and juice on a blanket in our room this year since Easter was so early and cold this year. We listened as Tim read the account from the bible. It is a fun celebration, but my greatest sadness is that my saviour hasn't come back yet. When thinking about the Mary seeing Him after he came out of the tomb, it makes me a little jealous. Then I think about watching him raise up into the clouds, and knowing He is preparing a place for me, and that He is really coming back. I don't feel quite so jealous then. I will touch him like Thomas. He will smile, comfort, and laugh at my impatience in view of eternity. Sometimes I don't know if I want to cry or laugh thinking about being with Him at last. For now I must be about my Father's business. He set the example.

Lovin' it on the trampoline

The kids had so much fun together that they are depressed today! They played games, video and traditional, jumped on the trampoline for HOURS, ran a couple miles, tossed a football, corralled Gabe, went to Sunday School and church, watched videos and humorous clips through the PS3 internet via the flat screen TV. The adults talked and talked and cleaned and talked and instructed and talked some more. Oh, and we ate of course. Fried okra and stir fry and olive oil eggs and Swedish coffee bread and shrimp. We generally buffeted our bodies. We are really looking forward to going to Wisconsin this August! We are so glad for friends like the Whites. They have a lot to share.

Walking in Memphis

We had a wonderful time with the Keith and Cindy White family from Rhinelander in Memphis Saturday. I thought it was quite an experience for everyone. It looks like a lot of people in the picture, but we both have dwindling families with marriage and college taking 5 siblings out of the picture. It was the full experience of a big family anyway. (Blocking traffic, finding bathrooms, people gawking, and worrying about abductions) We walked on cobblestones and rode the trolley. We took a picture with an Elvis statue and smelled the rotting beer and barbecue on Beale Street. We even saw a car window smashed, presumably by thieves, and I sat by someone who reeked of alcohol. It was almost the full experience of "walking in Memphis".

Happy Anniversary to us!

We had a fun time last Sunday for our Anniversary going to Hunan Chinese with my parents. It was a treat to go out to eat and we were all glad to have Tim back home after being away for two weeks. The weekend was too short. Our marriage is still blessed and growing in grace. We are looking forward to spending more and more time together as a couple in the coming years. We are thankful for the 23 years He has already given us and the children that he has added to us during this time! Our prayer is that we can continue to receive from Him all that we need to walk worthy of His grace in the future. I really love that man He gave me.

Snow at last!

Now that's a real snow!! We finally got some snow and wouldn't you know, we got the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of it. The good is that the kids got to play in it and throw snowballs at each other(good for some). The bad is that Tim was driving home the night before so that he could be home for our anniversary. The ugly is when it took from 4pm to about 12:30am to come home from Little Rock that night. He even took a nap on Hwy 40 while some made snowmen in the median. He is convinced that people don't know how to drive, and just like driving off the road into ditches.

Watch and learn

Well, here is an informational video in which, Moriah, shows us the wonders of cup stacking.( I wish she put the dishes away this fast ) I think SHE is the wonder. Stay with her to the end where she does the entire "cycle" at her tempo speed. Smart girl!

Homeschooling is great!

It doesn't matter if you are in the middle of math, if it snows around here, that's science!! We went outside and ran around in the snow when it started. It came down pretty hard and regular, but there was, of course, no accumulation. It was close to 40F. Look at those smiles. I just thank the Lord for these little ones. Oh, Steven looks the same size as Grace now, but he's not, he's heavier and only has a 1/4in to catch her. He is 65lbs and she is 62.